Thanksgiving--Busiest Day for Fires

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

News Release
13-129
Date: November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving Day is the busiest day for the fire service. More property
damage and lives are lost in residential structure fires on Thanksgiving
Day than any other day of the year. The increase applies mostly to
cooking fires in family homes. An estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires
in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year
and cause an estimated average of 5 deaths, 25 injuries, and $121 million
in property loss. Over the last several years, turkey fryer fires have
contributed significantly to the increase in cooking fires. The use of
turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries,
and destruction of property. The following safe cooking tips can help to
make your holiday safer:

Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized
testing facility.

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying or grilling food. If you leave
the kitchen, turn off the stove.

Keep anything that can catch fire--potholders, towels, or curtains away
from the stovetop.

Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove.

Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.

Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when cooking.

When placing the turkey into the oven or turkey fryer, be extremely
careful.

If having a fried turkey is a must for Thanksgiving, consider purchasing
a prepared turkey from a commercial source. Supermarkets and restaurants
accept orders for fried turkeys during the holiday season.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Captain I Randal Bittinger,
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711.
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-877-3702
Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs,
services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.
4100 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030fire-rescue.PA-LSEAfairfaxcounty.gov